Method of extracting vanadium



Patented June '2, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALBERT WITTIG, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF EXTRACTING VANADIUM.

N Drawing.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT WVITTIG, a citizen of Germany, and a resident of Berlin, have invented Improvements in a Method of 6 Extracting Vanadium, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of producing vanadium by extracting the same from vanadium compounds or 10 ores containing copper, lead and zinc, or the like.

In the art as hitherto practiced it is customary to employ sulphuric acid for treating the ore or ores in order to extract therefrom the vanadium. It has been found, however, that it is impossible to obtain in this way all of the metallic vanadium contained in the ore since a certain portion thereof remains as insoluble in sulphuric acid.

I have discovered after much study and research, that I can obtain the whole quantity of vanadium contained in the ores, Without any loss, by adding to the solvent or sulphuric acid a certain amount ofsul-' phur dioxide or'suitable sulphites. In case of sulphur dioxide I may add the same in the gaseous "form or in the liquid form and as regards the quantity of the sulphur dioxide to be added to the sulphuric acid not less than five parts of sulphur dioxide ought to be added for or to one hundred parts of ores to be treated.

I am also aware that sulphurous acid alone is employed for dissolving vanadium from ores.

According to my invention the ore is treat- Application filed May 7, 1924. Serial No. 711,743.

phur dioxide to the sulphuric acid amounts to at least five parts to one hundred parts of the weight of the ores under treatment If a sulphite or sulphites are employed a corresponding amount thereof, as found by calculation, is to be added to the sulphuric acid.

I have not attempted to explain all of the details of the method of extracting the vanadium from the. ore, since the principle of my invention depends upon the addition of sulphur dioxide or sulphites to the usual solvent only and and all the other operations constituting the method are within the knowledge of those who are versed in the art and to whom this specification is addressed.

lVhat I claim is I V The method of extracting vanadium from vanadium ores by means of a mixture of sulphuric acid and sulphurous acid, consisting in adding to the sulphuric acid at least five parts by Weight of SO to a hundred parts of the ore to be treated and treating the ore with the acid mixture thus pre pared, in the usual manner, to obtain a solution of vanadium. V p

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT wrr'rre. 

